Museum of the American Revolution’s Living History Youth Summer Institute Welcomes 10 Students to Annual Intensive

Program for High School and College Students Highlights Interpretation of the Lives of People of African Ancestry, Explores Museum Careers

Ten students will spend their summer interpreting the lives of the diverse people of the Revolutionary era during the Museum of the American Revolution’s Living History Youth Summer Institute. The six-week intensive course immerses high school and college students in costumed interpretation of enslaved and free people of African ancestry while exploring museum careers. The Summer Institute begins on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, and runs through Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.

The program, which is in its fourth year, features its largest class yet with 10 high school and college-aged students – eight of whom are from the Philadelphia area.

Launched in 2022, the Living History Youth Summer Institute aims to cultivate and support a more diverse community of people engaged in the museum field. It is part of the Museum’s African American Interpretive Program, sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal, which the Museum launched in 2021 to significantly expand its capacity to develop and deliver programs that explore the lives, experiences, and impact of Revolutionary-era people of African descent.  

“It’s been exciting over the last three years to see how the Living History Youth Summer Institute builds students’ confidence,” said Michael Idriss, the Museum’s African American Interpretive Program Manager. “We want to continue to foster these relationships with students, and our goal is to continue to develop their understanding of why these stories about people of African descent and being able to interpret them is important.” 

This summer, students will engage in some of the Museum’s most popular programs and offerings, including special exhibition Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags, the Black Voices of the Revolution gallery highlights tour, and the Museum’s Meet the Revolution costumed living history series. Students will explore topics like historical empathy, service through interpretation, professional development, and wellness through workshops facilitated by Museum staff and guest speakers.

Students will conclude the Summer Institute by participating in a free, open-to-the-public costumed interpretation capstone experience on Sunday, Aug. 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Clark Park. During their live interpretation, participants will set up the Museum’s replica of George Washington’s Revolutionary War encampment as part of its First Oval Office Project, dress in 18th-century costumes, and display the lives of soldiers, camp followers, and free and enslaved people and their connections to Washington.

The program includes weekly offsite trips to locations the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, New Jersey; the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum in Skillman, New Jersey; and the Betsy Ross House, Mother Bethel AME Church and Richard Allen Museum, and Historic Germantown in Philadelphia. Transportation is provided to and from all offsite excursions.

Comcast NBCUniversal is the sponsor of the Museum’s African American Interpretive Program. Additional support for the Living History Youth Summer Institute provided by Lawrence and Elyse Benenson and Carolyn Horn Seidle.

About Living History Youth Summer Institute 

The Museum of the American Revolution’s Living History Youth Summer Institute introduces Philadelphia-area high school and college students between the ages of 16 and 21 to the world of costumed historical interpretation with a focus on enslaved and free people of African descent. Participants explore the many aspects of museum work as potential career avenues, including education, curation, fundraising, marketing, interpretive planning, community outreach, acting, and more. In this summer course, students learn from experienced African American interpreters who work at historical organizations and museums from across the country about researching and interpreting the lives of people of African ancestry throughout Revolutionary America.

Participation in this six-week program is compensated for students. Participants must be available for the entirety of the program on weekdays and live within commuting distance of the Museum of the American Revolution. Participants are provided with SEPTA passes, PATCO passes (if needed), and transportation to additional off-site tours and field trips. Please stay tuned to the Museum's social media channels and website for information and application opportunities regarding the 2026 Living History Youth Summer Institute. For more information, visit www.amrevmuseum.org/living-history-youth-summer-institute.   

About Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.